Old Man's Cave
The most-photographed mile in Ohio. The Upper Falls plunges over a sandstone lip into a shaded gorge; Devil's Bathtub spirals water through smooth-worn stone; the cave itself is a 200-foot recess where a hermit named Richard Rowe is said to have lived in the late 1700s.
Stone steps (some hand-cut by the CCC in the 1930s) wind down into the gorge. Benches inside the cave. Continue on the Grandma Gatewood Trail for the full 6-mile route to Cedar Falls and Ash Cave — one of the great hikes in the Midwest.
Park at: Old Man's Cave Visitor Center (free).
Ash Cave
The largest recess cave in Ohio. 700 feet wide, 90 feet tall, with a 100-foot seasonal waterfall pouring over the lip into a shallow pool. The acoustics are staggering — people get married here, but you'll also catch impromptu choirs.
The lower path is paved and stroller/wheelchair accessible. Want more? Take the rim trail on the way back for a top-down view of the cave from the cliff edge. Best in spring and after heavy rain — the falls can dwindle to a trickle in late summer.
Park at: Ash Cave parking lot off SR 56.
Cedar Falls
The most water of any falls in the park. Misnamed by early settlers who mistook the hemlocks for cedars, but the name stuck. The drop is 50 feet, and in spring the noise is the kind that fills your chest.
Many photographers consider this the shot in the park. Connects to Old Man's Cave (3 miles north) and Ash Cave (3 miles south) via the Grandma Gatewood Trail. You can do all three as a day-long traverse with a car shuttle.
Park at: Cedar Falls trailhead off Lake Logan Rd.
Conkle's Hollow
A state nature preserve with two trails. The gorge floor is one of the most level, family-friendly walks in the park. The rim trail is the opposite — 200-foot cliff drops with no railings, and overlooks that feel like New England in the wrong place.
Designated a State Nature Preserve in 1977 — rules are stricter (no pets, stay on trail). Worth following them. The rim trail is not for kids and not for vertigo. The reward is the kind of view people drive to Tennessee for.
Park at: Conkle's Hollow lot off Big Pine Rd.
Rock House
The only true cave in the park — a 200-foot tunnel-like corridor with seven "windows" looking out over the cliff face. Used as shelter by Native Americans, then by a colorful 1830s tavern that sold rye whiskey to travelers.
Steep stone staircase down to the cave; flat once you're inside. Bring a flashlight if you want to explore the back — daylight reaches most of it through the windows but the corners get dark.
Park at: Rock House lot off SR 374.
Cantwell Cliffs
The most remote of the seven, in the far north of the park. Most visitors skip it, which is why locals love it. Squeeze through Fat Woman's Squeeze (a literal slot barely wide enough for one), then drop down into a gorge of horseshoe cliffs.
Steep stairs in and out. Bring water. The trail has a kind of pocket-canyon feel that the bigger areas don't — you'll often have whole sections to yourself, even on busy weekends.
Park at: Cantwell Cliffs lot off SR 374.
Whispering Cave
Opened in 2017 along with the 700-foot Hemlock Bridge — the longest suspension bridge in any Ohio state park. The cave itself is the second-largest recess in the park (after Ash Cave) and stays empty most of the time. It's the best secret in the system.
Trailhead is at Old Man's Cave Visitor Center, which means you can stack it onto a morning at OMC and double your day. The bridge alone is worth it.
Park at: Old Man's Cave Visitor Center.
